Common Questions- Puerto Rico Kiteboarding

What is the weather like in the spring?
Puerto Rico is blessed with year-round summer-like conditions. Each day you can expect beautiful, clear blue skies with temperatures ranging from 85 to 90 degrees. The water is always ‘bathwater’ warm and crystal clear. In the past, March and April have recorded the highest average wind speeds of the year.

How much does it cost to fly to Puerto Rico?
In all of our research in getting to Puerto Rico we have always found the best prices through Spirit Airlines. Spirit offers packages out of most major cities in North America. If you’re flying out of the Midwest then you can fly from either Detroit or Chicago. If you are flexible with dates and times, you can get round trip tickets for around $250 from Detroit to San Juan, Puerto Rico. That is CHEAP! Spirit has always been good for us with minimum delays and convenient flights. You can book your ticket through Spirit at www.spiritair.com. Check your prices today and you are guaranteed to be surprised at how cheap it is to fly to paradise.

If Sprit is not the airline you prefer that is fine, every major airline company flies to Puerto Rico. If you are going to take another carrier we would suggest flying into the Mayaguez, Ponce, or Aguadilla airports. Sprit also flies into Aguadilla. Mayaquez, Ponce and Aguadilla are about 40 minutes from La Parguera, versus a 2-hour drive across the island from San Juan.

Do I need a Passport?
For US citizens a passport is not needed. Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, making it effortless to come and go. However, it is never a bad idea to carry your passport with you whenever leaving the mainland USA. Canadians need only bring a photo ID.

Should I rent a car?
Before you come to Puerto Rico we suggest you reserve a rental car. There are many different options for rental car companies; you should be able to find a small car for around $40 per day. Just about every rental car company in North America is available in Puerto Rico. Having a rental car ready to go is the easiest way to get to La Parguera. The drive from San Juan to La Parguera is about a 2 hours.

How do I get from San Juan to the Broneah Base Camp?
The taxi service from the San Juan airport to La Parguera can be upwards of $150.00, but are always there and ready to go. If you are flying into Mayaguez, Ponce, or Aguadilla you can also have a cab to pick you up and bring you directly to the hotel in La Parguera.

Driving Directions From San Juan Airport to La Parguera:
You leave the airport and take the Teodoro Moscoso toll bridge ($1.75), and once you cross the bridge you continue on Rd 17. Stay on Rd. 17 until you reach an intersection for Rd. 18, where you take the exit to Caguas (south). Stay on Rd. 18, and eventually it becomes the Las Americas Toll Expressway, or Highway 52.

Once you are on Highway 52, follow the signs towards Caguas and then towards Ponce, a city on the south coast of the island. You should arrive in Ponce about 1.5 hours after leaving the airport. Highway 52 circles Ponce to the South, and then end as it connects with Road 2 towards Yauco and Mayagüez.

After leaving Ponce, heading west on Rd. 2, you will pass the towns of Guayanilla and Yauco. After passing the Yauco Plaza mall (K-mart, McDonald’s, etc.) on the right side, you will drive under two overpass bridges – just after the second overpass, on the right side, there is an exit for Rd. 116 with signs for Guánica and La Parguera. Do not miss this exit, as you will have to drive about 15-20 minutes before you can double back!

Once you are on Rd. 116 you pass the towns of Guánica and Ensenada. About 20-30 minutes after turning on to Rd. 116 you will find an intermittent traffic light at the intersection for Rd. 304, where you will turn left and the road will take you straight into La Parguera.

When you enter town riding down 304, the road comes to a T-intersection, where you take a right turn to the Hotel Villa Parguera on your left -

How much does it cost to eat?
The cost of eating depends. For those who desire fresh seafood dinners every night, you can expect to pay around $25 for an entrée. The budget traveler can get sandwiches for around $2, and basic dinners for under $10.

Is Puerto Rico a safe place to bring my family?
Absolutely. The small village of La Parguera is one of the safest locations on the island with some of the friendliest local people we have ever met. This town thrives off of tourism, so any type of crime is looked down upon. You will find the natives friendly and eager to help.

Do the locals speak English?
The majority of the people do speak some English. The native language is Spanish, so you should practice some of the bare essential just out of respect.

Will my cell phone work on the island?
From our personal experience, nearly all types of cell phones work fine. Our Sprint PCS phones even work out at the reef, almost a mile offshore! There is no need to use a country code when calling the states; it is just like dialing long-distance.

What should I bring with me?
- Any kites that you own.
- Bring your smaller board 100cm-160cm will be good, plus you don’t want a board that you will get charged for on the plane.
- Board Shorts and a rash guard to protect you from the sun, no need for a wetsuit here!
- Definitely bring some water booties (mandatory), got to watch out for the sea urchins.
- Your passport is not mandatory, but it is not a bad idea to have it with you.
- Scuba mask and snorkel.
- Lightweight pants, board shorts, and lightweight button-up shirts are the most comfortable, and don’t forget extra sunscreen!
Remember, the more gear and kites you have the more riding time you will get on the water! We require at least a 12 and 16-meter kite in your quiver with a suggested 9-meter for the stronger wind days.

What do we do if there is no wind?
In the extremely rare case of no wind in this kiteboarding paradise there are many no wind options. Here are a few for you to consider when getting packed:

- Hiking: If you’re into hitting the trail then pack your hiking shoes. The area in and around La Parguera has numerous trails and winding dirt roads for endless hours of hiking and exploring this incredible coastline.
- Mountain Biking: If mountain biking is your thing then we suggest packing yours. Whether it’s on the trail or a meandering paved road, this corner of Puerto Rico has the best. You can hit the winding county roads that span the coastline, or we will guide you to some of the best mountain biking loops on the island that are within 30min of La Parguera.
- Surfing: Only about a 40-minute drive from La Parguera you will find the best surf in the Caribbean. Places like Rincon have numerous world-renowned breaks that will please surfers of any caliber. So if you want to spend a couple extra days to get in some surfing we suggest it!
- Scuba Diving: In addition to different coral reef located close to the coast, 5 miles offshore there is an abyss that begins at only 60 feet of depth and drops to more than 1000 feet. Visibility often surpasses 100 ft plus. The walls are covered with all sorts of marine life including black coral at a depth in excess of 200 feet. This abyss or wall diving rivals the best spots around the world. You can board a diving boat directly on Posada Porlamar’s pier. Our pier serves as homeport for Parguera Divers fully equipped 30 foot diving boat. For more information on prices and dive spots visit www.pargueradivers.com.
- The Phosphorescent Bay: For a small fee tourist may board any of the boats and glass bottom boats that visit the world famous Phosphorescent Bay of La Parguera. There, millions of microscopic organisms called dinoflagelates cling to the body of fishes and float on the water producing a spectacular light show that sometimes looks like and underwater Aurora Borealis. Even the wake of boats shine with a soft eerie green as they cruise along the bay. The effect is dramatically enhanced on moonless nights.
- Open Water Fishing: At the town’s dock, you may board private operators that will take you fishing for Dolphin (Dorado), Jacks, Barracuda and small Tuna.
- Water Canals: Traveling west to Isla Cuevas on a rented or private small boat will bring you to a series of narrow mangrove canals that virtually form a maze of tunnels through the mangrove islands. Inside the mangrove you can enjoy watching tropical birds and sometimes-small monkeys jumping from branch to branch. Isla Cuevas may be full of monkeys; we advice caution if you plan to come ashore.
- Sandy Beaches: The best beaches of Puerto Rico are just a few minutes away by car. Just ask for directions to places like Playa Rosada, Playa Santa, Caña Gorda, and Playa Escondida (next to Cabo Rojo’s lighthouse).
- Kayaking: Kayaks are available for rent at a moderate price in the town.
- Photography: With a year round summer climate, La Parguera, is an ideal place for underwater and nature photography. Just go to one of the nearby hills and take that amazing panoramic picture you always wanted.
- Shopping: Close to the town’s plaza you may find small stores to purchase souvenirs, crafts, sport clothing and every-day necessities.

What type of a place is La Parguera?
In two words: Caribbean Dream. Once a fishing village, La Parguera retains its seaside charm, with modest, brightly painted homes; colorful bougainvillea shrubs; a miniature plaza; and a backdrop of rural hills. Inviting inns and guesthouses, restaurants and water sports operators cater to visitors, and everything is a short walk from everything else. Go during the week if you want the village to yourself; on weekends it fills up.

Offshore, coastal mangroves shelter a great variety of young marine and bird life. The nearby bioluminescent lagoon, where all moving underwater objects become instant glow sticks, has awed vacationers for decades. Regularly scheduled boats take passengers on enchanted nighttime rides. By day, you can rent a kayak or small boat at the piers and explore the more than 30 cays that seem to float offshore. For a ‘disneyesque’ sort of adventure, explore the mangroves near shore.

The continental shelf that wraps around southern Puerto Rico is closest to shore at La Parguera. Divers thrill to some of the healthiest reefs in the Caribbean, and aficionados rank La Parguera among the top dive destinations in the world. A fabulous selection of wall dives showcases 120 food deep rocks, vertical cliffs, and many underwater rarities. Beyond the continental shelf, large deep-sea fish such as dolphin fish (mahi-mahi), Wahoo, blue marlin and tuna abound. Local water sports operators make any adventure in La Parguera easy.

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on Friday, February 27th, 2009 at 8:20 pm and is filed under Caribbean, Luxury Camps.
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